January 2017
Contact: Tracey Campbell
Email: tcampbell@civhc.org
The Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) analyzed 2014 commercial claims data for high volume procedures in six regions of Colorado to consider the relationship between cost variation, volume, and geography. CIVHC found that there is no definite correlation between the factors and that the root cause of regional payment variation has not been identified. Residents of a certain region may pay more for a particular procedure, but do not generally pay more for all health care services. The report stresses the importance of conducting additional research to understand the many complex factors that contribute to rising health care costs and payment variation.